Early Homers Not Enough in Bandits’ Loss to Dragons

Davenport, Iowa – Chris Brito and Tyriq Kemp launched a pair of first-inning homers Sunday, but the Quad Cities River Bandits (49-49, 19-16) dropped their series finale to the Dayton Dragons (55-45, 16-18) 9-5 on Sunday afternoon at Modern Woodmen Park.

The River Bandits’ long balls were the second and third of the opening frame, as Peyton Stovall opened the contest with a solo shot for Dayton in the top of the first.

Kemp’s homer, a two-run shot and his second blast of the series, followed Brito’s three-run poke which came three batters earlier and helped Quad Cities knock Dayton starter JP Ortiz out of the game after the right-hander recorded just two outs.

River Bandits’ starter Emmanuel Reyes surrendered the Dragons’ second run on Jacob Friend’s RBI-groundout in the second inning, but faced just one over the minimum and struck out five of his day’s six to en route to his team-leading fifth quality start of the season.

While Reyes quieted Dayton through the middle innings and departed with a 5-2 Bandits lead, Quad Cities totaled just four base runners over the final eight innings of the game.

A two-run homer off the bat of Marcus Smith trimmed Quad Cities’ lead to 5-4 in the seventh, but right-hander Nick Conte finished off the frame with the Bandits still in front.

After allowing back-to-back base runners in the eighth, Conte was removed for Yimi Presional. The right-hander surrendered a game-tying RBI-single to Julio Carreras before delivering a wild pitch that scored Stovall and gave Dayton its first lead since the first inning.

The Dragons pushed their advantage to 9-5 with three-straight bases loaded walks later in the inning, as Friend, Alfredo Alcantara, and Mason Neville forced Presinal from the game after completing two thirds of the eighth.

While Aiden Jimenez ended the Dragons’ rally with a three-pitch strikeout of Stovall and tossed a scoreless ninth, the Bandits failed to break through against the Dragons bullpen combination of Brady Afthim (2.0 IP), Victor Diaz (1.0 IP), and Trent Hodgdon (2.0 IP).

Diaz (3-0) earned the win for Dayton, striking out two over his second appearance of the series, while Conte (0-2, 4) earned a hold, but was charged with the loss for Quad Cities after allowing four runs in one inning. Presinal (5) was charged with a blown save.

The River Bandits return to action on Tuesday, August 4, and kick off a six-game series against the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park at 6:35 p.m.